Apparatus and method for positioning of acetabular components during hip arthroplasty procedures

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to apparatus and methods for positioning the angular orientation and depth positioning of an acetabular component during hip arthroplasty procedures. The apparatus comprises a positioning member and guiding member set according to a preoperatively determined angular orientation derived from a pelvic radiograph or radiographs in accordance with the methods provided.

1 . An apparatus for positioning an acetabular component during a hip arthroplasty procedure, the apparatus comprising:
 a positioning member for engaging an acetabular socket, said positioning member having a landing surface for engaging said acetabular socket relative to at least one bone landmark; and   an elongate guiding member coupleable to said positioning member about perpendicular to said landing surface, said guiding member adjustable to a plurality of positioning angle settings and configured to receive a position guide;   
       wherein adjustment of said guiding member to said positioning angle setting orients said position guide onto a target site at said acetabular socket. 
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said elongate guiding member is rotatable relative to said positioning member, wherein rotation of said guiding member corresponds to said plurality of positioning angle settings. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said elongate guiding member comprises a plurality of openings along the length of said guiding member for receiving said position guide, said plurality of openings corresponding to said plurality of positioning angle settings. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of positioning angle settings is fixed at increasing and/or decreasing increments ranging from about 1° to about 5°. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said guiding member further comprises two opposing ends, each end comprising said plurality of openings; said first end comprising positioning openings corresponding to positioning angle settings for a right hip acetabular socket and said second end comprising positioning openings corresponding to positioning angle settings for a left hip acetabular socket of a subject, whereby the positioning angle setting for the right or left hip acetabular socket is selected by slidable translation of said guiding member relative to said positioning member. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said guiding member slidably translates about perpendicularly to said positioning member relative to a geometry of said acetabular socket, whereby the slidable translation allows engagement of a plurality of acetabular sockets wherein each of the plurality of acetabular sockets has a different shape and size relative to the others of the plurality of the acetabular sockets. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said landing surface of the positioning member is V-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said landing surface ranges in length from about 40 to about 90 mm. 
     
     
         14 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said position guide comprises an alignment indicator member couplable to said position guide, said alignment indicator member having a calibrated scale for guiding alignment of an implant inserter parallel to said position guide when inserting the acetabular component into position in the acetabular socket of a subject. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising a crosshair for marking the at least one bone landmark on the acetabular rim of said socket to guide the engagement of said landing surface on said socket, wherein the crosshair comprises two, three, or four arms for correspondingly marking the at least one bone landmark on the acetabular rim of said socket. 
     
     
         19 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said position guide comprises a depth gauge having a calibrated scale for aligning an implant inserter to a desired depth of insertion in the acetabular socket of said subject. 
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for positioning an acetabular component for implantation during a hip arthroplasty procedure performed on a subject, the method comprising:
 a) determining a positioning angle from a radiographic image, said positioning angle determined relative to predefined landmarks at the acetabular socket of the subject's pelvis; and   b) engaging the apparatus of  claim 1  with the acetabular socket of said pelvis relative to said predefined landmarks, said apparatus having a first position guide coupled thereto, whereby the orientation of said first position guide corresponds to said positioning angle;   c) inserting said first position guide to the pelvis of said subject.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said first position guide defines an inclination orientation for said acetabular socket. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said first position guide defines an anteversion orientation for said acetabular socket. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said first position guide defines both an anteversion and an inclination orientation for said acetabular socket. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising
 d) coupling a second position guide to said apparatus and engaging said apparatus with the acetabular socket of said pelvis relative to said first position guide, whereby said second position guide is inserted into the pelvis of said subject; and   e) optionally removing said first position guide such that said second position guide remains in position at the acetabular socket for guiding said positioning.   
     
     
         30 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein said first position guide defines an inclination orientation for said acetabular socket and said second position guide defines anteversion orientation for said acetabular component. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein said first position guide is removed and said second position guide defines both inclination and anteversion orientation for said acetabular component. 
     
     
         35 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 f) aligning an implant inserter to said second position guide, said implant inserter comprising said acetabular component;   
       wherein said acetabular component is positioned in reference to said second position guide for implantation in said acetabular socket. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , further comprising:
 g) positioning said implant inserter at a desired depth of insertion in the acetabular socket of said subject, wherein said depth positioning is in reference to a depth gauge attached to said second position guide.   
     
     
         39 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A device for evaluating the reamed depth of an acetabular socket, the device comprising two slidably interengaging parts, each part comprising at one end an extension for engaging with a respective landmark at said acetabular socket, wherein said interengaging parts together function as a protractor for determining an angle when said extensions are engaged with said landmarks and said device is positioned in said acetabular socket. 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A device for guiding depth positioning of an acetabular component, the device comprising a depth gauge having a calibrated scale for aligning an implant inserter to a desired depth of insertion in the acetabular socket of a subject, wherein the depth gauge is attachable to a position guide. 
     
     
         44 - 45 . (canceled)